Par panel on agriculture examining MSP methodology

New Delhi, Jun 3. A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture today invited comments from public, experts and other stakeholders on pricing policy of farm items as it is examining the method of fixing support prices of crops. The committee, headed by Basudeb Achariya, has also sought comments on the Agricultural Biosecurity Bill 2013. "The Committee ... is examining the methodology involved in fixation of Minimum Support Price (MSP); need to broad base crops covered; market intervention to protect farmers from distress sale; evolving a balanced and integrated price structure, etc," the statement added. The government announces the MSP for about 20 farm items after taking into account the recommendations of the advisory body Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP). Recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pulled up the government for fixing the MSP of foodgrain crops in a "skewed" manner without following any specific norms. "Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture has invited suggestions, views, and comments of experts/ stakeholders/individuals/institutions/organisations interested on the Agricultural Biosecurity Bill 2013," Agriculture Ministry said in a separate statement. The bill was introduced in Parliament on March 11 for the establishment of an authority that will ensure biosecure global trade in farm items. The bill assumes importance as it intends to put in place a better regime of quarantining and controlling pests and even "exotic species" that are finding their way into India. The bill proposed the establishment of an authority for prevention, control, eradication and management of pests and diseases of plants and animals and unwanted organisms for ensuring agricultural biosecurity. The authority's mandate will be to cover four sectors of agricultural biosecurity: plant health, animal health, living aquatic resources (like fisheries) and agriculturally important micro-organisms.